Bennett Racing 4yo Zou Sensation returned to the winners stall with a terrific win at Moonee Valley on Saturday. The big son of Zoustar was making his 2nd racetrack appearance since recovering from throat surgery. He certainly gave notice with a great 1st up run for 3rd at Cranbourne on the 25th November and Troy Corstens was confident that he had taken plenty of improvement from that run.
On Saturday he started from a wide barrier but flew the barriers and Blake McDougall had little trouble sitting him outside the leader. They ran along at a good pace and coming to the turn the leader slipped away and appeared full of running. On straightening Blake eased the big boy out and he pounced on the lead and held his advantage all the way to the line, eventually winning easily by 2.1Len.
A great sight to see the owners who attended thrilled by the win in good time as well.
Zou Sensation started his career in a blaze of glory winning on debut at Murray Bridge metro meeting back in June 2022. He followed up that run with a solid 3rd to Thron Bone down the Flemington straight. His next run was full of merit when again down the Flemington straight he was 3rd to Buenos Noches in the Listed Poseidon Stkes. Things went downhill from there with an unplaced effort behind Giga Kick in the Gr2 Danehill Stks. Put away after another disappointing effort down the straight. Zou Sensation resumed with a lacklustre efforts at Geelong and Flemington after which he was diagnosed as a roarer. A subsequent throat tie forward looks to have been successful after Saturdays win.
The win took Zou Sensations record to 9 starts 2 wins & 3 x 3rds with Prizemoney: $144,550.
Zou Sensation was a 150k Magic Millions purchase from Widden Stud. He is the only one to race for his dam the Danehill Dancer mare Dame Claire (NZ ) who was a winner of the Listed VRC Andrew Ramsden Stakes and also the Listed MRC RM Ansett Classic. Certainly bred to stay a distance Dame Claire comes from the family of smart stayer Horrifying and International Group winners many bred by The Aga Khan incl Arcangues, Agathe, Aquarelliste, Artiste Royal, Annenkov, Alamo Bay, Australie, Forgotten Voice, Angara, Actrice, Arlesienne, Galatee, Cape Verdi etc
A ¾ sister to Zou Sensation by Zousain will be sold at the 20224 Magic Millions Sale by vendors Kulani Park.
Congratulations to all owners in Zou Sensation who’s patience has been rewarded and a big thankyou to the Team at Malua Racing.
Incidentally the win by Zou Sensation was the 10th winner for Bennett Racing this season of which 8 were winners in the Metropolitan area.
